Immigration

Ms Patel said that “successive government’s” have failed to anticipate the number of migrants who will come to Britain as she said the only way to control immigration is to leave the European Union.

She said: “This is about the failure of successive governments when it comes to not planning for the level of migration that came. The pressure that basically put on the housing, public services, on schools places.

"Actually it is the duty of government to be able to wake up to this and actually anticipate how we can provide the right level of public services.”

Watch | Alex Salmond: I am fed up with immigrants being presented negatively

00:30

Mr Johnson said that he is “pro-immigration” but that the level of net migration is “too high” and needs to come down to a “manageable figure”.

He declined to say what the level of immigration should be, however, instead saying that it should “correspond to the needs of British industry and business and the economy”.

Mr Salmond said that immigration is being presented as a “dreadful, awful thing” and that it “doesn’t strike me that the country is being overrun”. Ms Kendall said that immigrants are being treated “like a disease”.

The economy

Mr Johnson cheered on Mr Salmond with cries of “hear, hear” as the former SNP leader condemned the Remain campaigns warnings that there will be “Armageddon” if Britain leaves the EU.

However Mr Salmond said that the leave campaign could “minimise the hit” if they it signed up to joining the European Economic Area.

However Mr Johnson said: “I think the best advice I can give is to relay what the Prime Minister himself said before the whole logic of Project fear kicked in. He said there was no doubt Britain could thrive mightily and we could do free trade deals.”

Ms Patel and Ms Kendall clashed over whether leaving the European Union would see employment laws being scrapped. Ms Kendall said that as many as half of employment protections would be scrapped.

The claims were strongly denied by both Ms Patel who said it was unfair that only 5 per cent of companies traded with EU countries, yet they were all affected by EU regulation.

Project fear

Mr Johnson said that the difference between the Leave and the Remain campaign is that “we believe we can do it”.

Mr Salmond said: “I think there is an extraordinarily positive case about peace and prosperity. I think both sides have been engaged in scaremongering and negative tactics.”

Mr Johnson insisted that there is a “fantastic prize” if Britain votes to leave the European Union. “Let me cheer you up, there is a huge opportunity for this country,” he said. “We cannot do free trade deals with America, China and India, allow our economy to grow. That’s a fantastic prize.”

Watch | Alex Salmond: I'm worried what Boris will do if he becomes PM

00:25

Boris Johnson for Prime Minister?

Mr Johnson resisted the urge to respond when Mr Salmond said that it was “perfectly honourable” for him to want to become Prime Minister.

He said: “But my worry is not you wanting to be Prime Minister, it’s what you would do when you were Prime Minister and scrapping the social chapter doesn’t give us control.”

The pair clashed repeatedly, with Mr Salmond forcing Mr Johnson to admit that he had not read a Bank of England report suggesting migration suppresses wages. He accused him of being a “scaremonger on wages” and said that the impact is small.

Mr Johnson later hit back by asking Mr Salmond: “How many directives have the EU passed on bananas?” To laughter from the audience, Mr Johnson said: “Have you looked at the banana directives? Have you got them there? I happen to have taken the trouble to research it, unlike you."

Watch | Audience member says Boris 'is not trustworthy'

01:16

The environment

Mr Johnson was applauded as he highlighted the Volkswagen emissions scandal and said that the European Union had presided over a “huge scam”.

He said: “ If we’d been doing the testing in this country rather than relying on procedures of the EU I think there is a real chance that that would not have happened.

“Millions of people in this country would not have bought machines that were very expansive and very, very polluting. That’s a classic example of how the EU works against the interests not just of the consumer but of the environment.”

However Ms Kendall highlighted the fact that Britain’s biggest environmental charities have called for Britain to stay in the European Unoin

A neverendum?

Mr Johnson appeared to rule out suggestions that there should be a second referendum if the vote is close, saying the vote will settle the issue for a “generation”.

He said: “[Politicians] should not regularly remit fundamental questions to people in this way. I think that’s why both the Europe Union question and the Scottish question should be generational questions.”

Ms Kendall agreed: “A win is a win, this is it. Most of the challenge is global in nature – we get more influence by being part of the European Union."

Mr Salmond insisted that Scotland would be entitled to hold a second referendum on independence if Britain leaves the European Union.

Security

Britain’s would be more secure if it left the European Union because Brussels is undermining Nato, Mr Johnson claimed.

He blamed the EU for diplomatic failures that led to problems in Ukraine which eventually led to Russia invading the Crimea, describing it as a “disaster”.

Michael Deacon, our political sketch writer, offers this take on tonight's EU debate.

Many voters believe that the EU referendum debate has been sorely lacking in hard facts. They want more. Perhaps naively, tonight they tried asking some politicians.

At the start of the Telegraph's very own Brexit debate - broadcast live online from the offices of YouTube in London - a man in the audience wanted each member of the panel to give him a figure. What annual rate of immigration into Britain would be practical? A number, please, he added.

After some convivial burbling about his Turkish great-grandfather, Boris Johnson said we "need to go lower". Yes, but how much lower? "A manageable figure." Yes, but what would be a manageable figure? "A figure that corresponds to the needs of business and the economy."

"I'm not going to get a figure on it," she said, "because people are fed up of politicians making promises they don't keep." So her solution, apparently, is to promise us nothing at all.

Priti Patel? "We're not fully in control of our immigration policy," said the Tory employment minister. Right. But a number? No? Alex Salmond?

"This country hasn't been overrun," declared the former SNP leader. "I'm fed up of seeing immigrants being presented as a negative!"

Unless I failed to hear him mumble it beneath the outbreak of applause, I don't think Mr Salmond gave a number either.

Oh well. At least we now know the number of politicians who can tell us what the ideal rate of immigration would be.

Throughout the 90-minute debate, the most memorable - and most combative - exchanges came between Mr Salmond and Mr Johnson. The former harried the latter remorselessly. Having taunted him about his alleged career ambitions, Mr Salmond took a particular interest when the former Mayor of London claimed that a Bank of England study showed immigration depressed wages by two per cent.

Snap verdict: Boris stayed on top of his game

Boris JohnsonCredit:
Telegraph

Juliet Samuel:

"From the moment the debate opened, we saw Boris Johnson trying to strike a positive tone on immigration by emphasising that he is the descendent of migrants. Perhaps he was preempting Alex Salmond who, as soon as he had the floor, launched into the first passionate defence of immigration we have seen in the campaign. He called immigrants "hard-working and diligent".

"I am fed up of seeing [immigrants] presented as a negative. It's not fair it's not right and it's not true," he declared to applause. His aim was to paint the Brexiteers as the nasty ones. But it backfired when Tony Smith, the man in the audience asking about immigration, declared he wasn't anti-immigration but was demanding to know how the country's infrastructure and services could cope practically with the influx.

Later, Boris was close to being skewered by Salmond when he admitted that he hadn't read the Bank of England study he was quoting. The study states that there is a small fall in wages when immigration rises. "I want to nail this," said Salmond. But then he didn't. The point he seemed keen to make is that the wage effect is extremely small. But Boris immediately wrested back the initiative by declaring that Salmond had confirmed what he was saying. Nice try."

Snap verdict: Liz Kendall was the star of the debate

Liz KendallCredit:
Getty Images

Tim Stanley

"Liz Kendall's answers were reasoned and passionate and, this is important, she wasn't afraid to deploy blue language. She came across like a well-informed ordinary citizen. "If you don't believe the politicians," she said at one point, "and I don't blame you if you don't..."

In fact she was so good that it raises two tantalising what ifs. What if she'd been elected Labour leader? Given the Government's current troubles, have no doubt Labour would be leading in the polls. What if, also, Labour was leading the Remain campaign - with enthusiasm? They'd be making a progressive, positive case for the EU rather than Remain's negative one.

There was a powerful moment when Kendall said that, yes, immigration puts a stretch on services but that "you're more likely in the NHS to be helped by a migrant than be in a queue behind them." People like Kendall really believe in the EU - and they should've been arguing for it."

Comment: A quick note on that row about bananas

Juliet Samuel:

"On the Banana Directive, I did actually look it up. It's true that marketers of bananas are regulated as to their curvature, quality, length and bunch size, among other features in the EU. But I also looked up equivalent regulations for the US market. Aubergine trade rules within the US state they must not be blotchy, mushy, too small or a funny colour. So perhaps these arcane regulations are just part of the modern bureaucracy of trade."

Germany

Spain

Does the EU make us safer?

Priti Patel says the "passport free zone" that is the EU puts the UK at greater risk.

But Liz Kendall says that Britain is "safer in", pointing to the fact that we can check names on flights to see who is coming here and "we can now much more quickly deport people". She says that sharing information between EU countries is the key to success when it comes to safety because "crime is borderless now".

But Ms Patel asks why there are "thousands" of EU nationals sitting in British prisons.

Alex Salmond says "cooperation on security matters is always a good thing". He also says that 5,000 people have already been sent back and the European Arrest Warrant has been "a huge advantage" for police forces.

Turkey moves a step closer to joining the EU

Turkey will move a step closer to joining the European Union within days of Britain's referendum, it emerged today, despite British diplomats attempting to torpedo the move.

Leaders - including David Cameron - agreed back in March to open a chapter on membership talks before the end of the month as part of a migrant deal signed in March. The Financial Times last night reported EU diplomats had signed off the move, but Britain had attempted to halt it, before dropping their resistance after a few hours.

Turkey has so finished met just one of the 35 chapters it must fulfill to join the bloc.

Turkey joining the EU?

We've now turned to the prospect of Turkey becoming an EU member.

Boris Johnson says that there is a case for "a new associate relationship" for Turkey. He says he is happy for them to join the EU "providing we come out", something which gets some laughter from the audience.

Comment: Why do politicians have an answer for everything?

Tim Stanley:

"It would be nice to hear one of the panel admit that there isn't an answer to everything. Take property: who knows what will happen if we leave? Prices could fall... But for millions trying to get on the ladder that might be a good thing. Moreover what might happen if we stay? Could an economic crisis in the EU not lead to a either a slump in the UK. Or, just as possible, migrants come in large numbers and drive up prices?"

EU and the environment: A good or bad influence?

Alex Salmond urges voters not to pull out of the EU, which he believes has been a positive influence on the environment, but Boris Johnson points to issues such as the diesel scandal which he believes the EU was implicated in.

Mr Johnson said: "The EU is constantly trying to get international bodies to replace and speak up for us. The EU takes our seat but if it doesn't have a common position then the EU is silent and Britain has no voice at all. That is a disgrace."

Liz Kendall adds: "I am very proud that Britain has helped to lead a stronger case on climate change in the EU and the EU has led the case across the world."

'Referendum is once in a generation'

Priti Patel says this is "a once in a generation" opportunity to have your say, while Liz Kendall says "a win is a win".

Is this the first time that both sides have agreed on something?

A close result is looking likely in the EU referendum, with our poll of polls tracker showing that Leave campaign has just overtaken Remain. It now retains a two point lead over remain - although there is still a significant number of people who are saying they’re undecided.

Some are predicting the the results will mimic the Scottish referendum, where people back the status quo last minute.

The truth is, however, that we don’t know - the polls and betting odds don’t give much insight into which way the vote will swing, but it’s likely to be close either way.

Dodging the question?

The debate has turned away from the question (surprise, surprise) and is instead looking at the impact of immigration on occupational wages.

Boris Johnson says "there is a compressing effect" on wages because of immigration, but our host interrupts to say "this is fascinating, but is not answering the question: have politicians lost touch with ordinary voters?"

But as my colleague James Kirkup reports, a key line from a Bank of England study quoted in the debate says: "a 10 percentage point rise in the proportion of immigrants working in semi/unskilled services — that is, in care homes, bars, shops, restaurants, cleaning, for example — leads to a 1.88 percent reduction in pay".

Have politicians lost touch with ordinary voters?

The next question comes from Peter Dominiczak, The Telegraph's Political Editor.

According to a recent YouGov poll, the Remain leaders are generally trusted less than their Brexit-backing rivals. Boris Johnson, Iain Duncan-Smith and even Nigel Farage scored better than David Cameron. Jeremy Corbyn was the second most trusted politician on the EU, according to the poll.

Comment: Personal attacks on Boris

Watch | Alex Salmond: I'm worried what Boris will do if he becomes PM

00:25

James Kirkup:

Personal attacks on Boris Johnson have been one of the defining features of the referendum. Inevitably Alex Salmond couldn’t resist the temptation, suggesting that Mr Johnson’s Leave campaign is really about his ambition to become prime minister.

A similar barb came from the audience later: “You’re in it for yourself.”

The attacks fell flat. That’s largely (and sadly) because most voters have a fairly low opinion of politicians: they assume they’re all self-interested careerists, so accusing any one politician of being a self-interested careerist is unlikely to do much damage.

More important still was Mr Johnson’s response: he didn’t respond. Instead of playing the joker, answering with a quip (he once said he was more likely to be reincarnated as an olive than become PM) he stayed silent, refusing to engage.

That’s the self-discipline he’ll need if he’s going to persuade people he’s the sort of serious figure who can be prime minister.

Which topics are most searched for in Google?

Salmond is first to raise Boris leadership ambitions

Alex Salmond is the first panellist to raise the prospect of Boris Johnson's leadership ambitions, but the former Mayor of London does not rise to the bait.

“Unlike other people, I think it is perfectly honourable position for you to want to become Prime Minister. All politicians want that sort of things.

“But my worry is not you wanting to be Prime Minister, it’s what you would do when you were Prime Minister and scrapping the social chapter doesn’t give us control. It might give you control, but that’s our protection that most workers in this country would like to keep.”

Boris: Non-EU countries export into single market easily

Responding to criticisms from one audience members who says she cannot trust Mr Johnson, he said: "I think it is important in this debate not to get dragged into the past but I think the single market is a fascinating study. What happens is that the predictions for growth post 1990 have turned out to be completely false. There are 36 countries outside of the EU that have done better than this country and export goods into the single market. They are doing much better."

Boris points to JCB backing Brexit

Boris Johnson says if you look at a company like JCB it is "building diggers for the whole world" and while one might initially think the EU "was built for a company like this", the company actually wants out.

He says: “JCB make diggers that are literally building Britain, building the whole world. They are huge bits of kit that we are selling in ever growing quantities.

“You might have thought that the single market was designed for people like JCB. On the contrary, he wants out for the very reason that there’s too much regulation, too much red tape. He is better selling into the EU and being out of it."

"Liz Kendall is leading the chart from the Left to paint Brexiteers as Tory destroyers of worker protections. The hope of the Remainers this week is that they can use Tory-bashing to bring out Labour voters on their side. Alex Salmond followed up by claiming that Boris is opposing the EU in order to become Prime Minister and scrap workers' rights: "Scrapping the social chapter doesn't give us control. It might give you control," he declared to applause."

Priti Patel: Let's get out of the economic slow lane

Priti Patel, the Employment Minister, says Britain must get out of the EU "slow lane" when it comes to the economy.

"I think it is important to reflect global factors in the market place. When you look at issues in China that plays out in the wider market. The purported risk that the Remain side are saying would happen if we vote to Leave, I'm optimistic about the future of our economy in the long term because we would have the freedom to grow our economy in a way that we cannot currently do so. Europe is in the slow lane on the economy, let's be honest about that."

Analysis: Boris exudes Leave's confidence

"Boris Johnson's immediate response to a question about immigration is fascinating: his first words are in praise of immigration. That tells us a lot about the Leave campaign's confidence.

Leave know that immigration is their trump card, the issue that motivates many of their voters and causes Remain the most trouble. But being seen to be stridently anti-immigrant can put some liberal-minded voters off the Leave campaign, so Boris wants to suggest that Leavers are not anti-immigrant, they simply want Britain to be able to control its own immigration policy.

Factcheck: Population rise

Ashley Kirk

Boris Johnson has argued that immigration into the UK needs to be lowered, claiming that the population will reach “80 million in the next few decades”. The UK population - currently at 65 million - is expected to reach 70 million in 2027 and 75 million in 2042.

The Office for National Statistics is assuming a fall in net migration, from 300,000 a year to under 200,000 from 2020. Under its variant scenarios, ‘low migration’ of 100,000 would mean we’d hit 70 million in 2031, four years later than the main projection.

The population wouldn't reach 70 million before 2040 if we had no net migration at all for the next two decades.

Boris: Immigration is now too high

Boris Johnson says he is pro-immigration, citing his own Turkish grandfather who came to Wimbledon in 1912. "Very lucky my family was," he said. "We now running at a net rate of 330,000, a city the size of Newcastle. I think most people in this country feel that is very high indeed, and perhaps too high."

Boris Johnson

The former Mayor of London refused to say what a "manageable figure" would be, but said it must "correspond to the needs of British businesses and the economy".

He said 77,000 people who did not have a job offer came from the EU last year.

What level of immigration can the UK cope with?

Let the debate begin

We’re here in You Tube’s headquarters in the heart of London – with just eight days to go before British voters decide on the most important question for generations to come – In or Out of the European Union?

For the Leave campaign we have Boris Johnson and Priti Patel. For Remain we have Liz Kendall and Alex Salmond.

You can join the debate at hashtag EUDebate – please join the fray – with panellists like these, it’s going to get lively!

Tonight's line-up

Analysis: Why Boris must not rise to the bait tonight

One of Boris Johnson's biggest challenges in today's Telegraph debate will be resisting the temptation to rise to the bait.

The former Mayor of London is likely to be repeatedly pushed on suggestions that his decision to back a Brexit was motivated by his leadership ambitions.

While he deftly held back on the subject when pushed in last week's leadership debate, Alex Salmond will no doubt delight in goading him further.

To succeed Mr Johnson will need to repeat the success of his old friend Michael Gove in the Sky News debates and make a positive, sincere and passionate case for Britain to leave the EU.

Michael Gove made a positive, sincere and passionate case for Leave in his Sky News appearanceCredit:
AFP/Getty Images

He and Priti Patel, the eurosceptic employment minister, will be keen to focus on the issue of immigration, while Mr Salmond and Liz Kendall, a Labour MP, will try to stick to the economic risk of Brexit.

The Remain campaigners will also be keen avoid accusations of scaremongering and focus on the benefits of Britain's EU membership.

Ms Kendall, who ran for her party's leadership leadership, will face questions about whether Jeremy Corbyn is doing enough to win round Labour voters for Remain.

Mr Salmond, in the meantime, will inevitably be pushed on his claim that a vote to leave the EU will trigger a second referendum on Scottish independence.

Analysis: What Boris and Priti must do tonight to secure Brexit victory

Peter Dominiczak, Political Editor

With the polls increasingly predicting a Brexit, Boris Johnson’s Leave campaign knows an unlikely referendum victory is now a very real possibility, .

Their mission for the next nine days – and in tonight’s debate – is therefore twofold.

One, focus relentlessly on the core issue of immigration and try to sway undecided voters by putting forward a positive vision for Britain’s economy outside of the EU.

Boris Johnson at an ITV debate last weekCredit:
REX/Shutterstock

Two, remain calm and avoid an agenda-setting gaffe that could throw the good ship Brexit off-course.

Mr Johnson has been coached ahead of the referendum debates and moulded into a disciplined performer.

It is vital that he retains this measured tone in the face of attacks from Alex Salmond, the former SNP leader who is no stranger to high-pressured referendum debates.

Mr Salmond will goad Mr Johnson where possible, prodding and probing in an attempt to get the former mayor of London to descend into insulting badinage, a major turn-off for floating voters.

Priti Patel, Mr Johnson’s Eurosceptic colleague, will be key this evening. She will attempt to take the pressure away from Mr Johnson by fighting many of the battles on his behalf, allowing Mr Johnson to rise above it all and make the case for a Brexit.

After a lacklustre referendum campaign from Labour, Liz Kendall, one of the party’s more popular backbenchers, must attempt to make the case for Remain to the undecided voters who could be key to the final result.

Her biggest hurdle will be simply making herself heard in a battle set to be dominated by Mr Johnson and Mr Salmond, two of the undoubted heavyweights of British politics.

Tonight's guests: Priti Patel

Priti Patel, the Employment Minister whose parents came to the UK from Uganda as immigrants in the 1960s. She grew up in Hertfordshire and went to the same school in Watford as another of our panellists – Liz Kendall.

Watch | Priti Patel's political career in 60 seconds

01:08

Ms Patel said: “We will be using the facts. If they have learned nothing else, Remain would have realised that it is counterproductive to start launching personal attacks.

"Boris has been great, he is a huge figure and a dynamic part of our campaign, he attracts public attention – for me it has been really great to work with a wide range of colleagues.To campaign on a different issue in a different way has been pretty exhilarating."

Tonight's guests: Liz Kendall

Liz Kendall became a Labour MP in 2010 and came fourth in last year’s Labour leadership contest. She says it’s a decision that should be debated by Watford girls, not just Bullingdon boys – a reference to the Oxford drinking club whose members included, of course - Boris Johnson.

Watch | Liz Kendall's career in politics in 60 seconds

01:08

Ms Kendall told The Telegraph ahead of tonight's debate: “Those of us who want Britain to stay in the EU are in for the fight of our lives.

"The decision will take on June 23 will affect the jobs, wages, investment and public services on which we all depend and Britain’s role and influence in the world.

“I will be making the patriotic, Labour case for us to remain in the EU and to build a better future for the people I came into politics to serve.

What to expect tonight: 'Pressure is on for the Remain camp'

The pressure will be on the Remain camp to regain the initiative as they fall behind in polls. They are wheeling out big guns on the Left to rally anti-Tory and working class voters.

The economy is a strong issue for Remain, according to polls. But the strategy so far – listing authorities that agree with them – is not working. They need to find a way to make voters think with their wallets, rather than telling them to obey “the experts”.

The Leave campaign has surged in the polls

It will be interesting to hear Alex Salmond’s take on why Britain should not choose self-determination. He is one of the few politicians with enough charisma and originality to go beyond money and provide a broader political narrative about our place in the EU. He could try to make his opponents appear small-minded and insular.

He will doubtless mention the risk that Scotland would demand a second referendum if we leave. But it’s risky, as few things unite and annoy English voters more than threats from the angry north.

What to expect tonight: 'After Orlando, the biggest issue will be security'

Tim Stanley, Telegraph columnist:

I anticipate that the biggest issue in tonight’s debate will be security. Everyone’s minds are on Orlando. Leave.EU’s controversial ad warning of an “Orlando-style atrocity” if we stay in the EU has been called disgraceful. But it’s what a lot of viewers will be thinking. Does cooperation with our European partners make my family safer? Or does free movement across the continent make it harder to stop terror suspects entering the UK?

Politically, the line-up betrays the strange alliances that the referendum has forged. Remain are fielding Liz Kendall, a Blairite Labour ex-leadership contender, and Alex Salmond, a Left-wing Scottish nationalist who has contributed to the death of Labour north of the border. Leave, meanwhile, have Priti Patel and Boris Johnson – both of whom must have half a mind on what’s going to happen to them when this is all over. Boris wants to be prime minister and thus far has impressed pundits with his debating skills. Patel is auditioning for… what? Future home secretary? If Remain wins, Cameron will likely boot her out of the Cabinet – after all, she’s the lady who said that he was too posh to understand the problems caused by migration. She’s taken a huge gamble for her beliefs in this referendum and deserves respect for it.

Priti Patel has put her Cabinet job on the line for her beliefsCredit:
Eddie Mulholland

Aside from Orlando, expect fevered debate about Project Fear and the economic consequences of the Brexit. Salmond will make cracks about Boris' ambitions and the audience will probably groan. Momentum, poll-wise, is behind Leave. Remain is getting desperate. They seem to think they can terrify us all into changing our minds and choosing to remain within the EU, to put safety first. But many voters feel less than safe right now. For them, Brexit holds out the promise of securer borders.

What to expect tonight: 'This will get personal'

Michael Deacon, Telegraph sketch writer:

It was meant to be a referendum on the EU. The Remain camp, however, seem determined to make it a referendum on Boris Johnson. During last Thursday's extraordinary debate on ITV, three pro-EU politicians - the SNP's Nicola Sturgeon, Labour's Angela Eagle and even the Tories' Amber Rudd - set out to trash the former Mayor of London's reputation, calling him untrustworthy, self-interested and dangerous.

Expect to see more of the same at the Telegraph's own Brexit debate tonight. Representing Remain, the SNP's Alex Salmond and Labour's Liz Kendall are likely to repeat the argument that Mr Johnson is campaigning for Leave purely to boost his Tory leadership ambitions. They may note that, as recently as February, he argued that leaving the EU would "divert energy from the real problems of this country", which "have nothing to do with Europe".

Alex Salmond will be looking forward to a head-to-head with Boris Johnson

Wisely, Mr Johnson refrained from responding to the attacks on his character during the ITV debate. But can he manage the same restraint tonight? Don't expect to hear too many jokes from him - for media appearances in this campaign he's largely ditched his usual Woosterish elan. Instead, he's been calm, thoughtful, serious. Even his hair looks sensible.

Alongside him will be the Tory employment minister, Priti Patel. Expect her to dismiss any criticism of Brexit as "scaremongering" and "talking Britain down". She and Mr Johnson may also ask Mr Salmond why, when it comes to the EU, he suddenly loses his passion for national autonomy.

For his part, the former SNP leader will welcome the chance to get stuck into a couple of Tories. When Mr Salmond first proposed an EU debate with Mr Johnson, he said: "I'll debate for In. Boris can debate for Boris."

The 90-minute contest will take place at 7pm tonight, and will be held at YouTube’s London headquarters in front of an audience of Telegraph readers and Huffington Post guests. The whole debate will be available to watch live right here on this page.

Watch | Telegraph's EU debate: Is Boris ready?

00:27

The panel will be questioned by the audience and also by prominent YouTube bloggers Jamal Edwards and Louise Pentland, who have 3.2 million subscribers between them.

Mr Johnson, the former mayor of London who is leading the Leave campaign alongside Michael Gove, the Justice Secretary, said he will use the debate to “show why our vision is a vision founded on hope”.

Mr Salmond, the former SNP leader and pro-Remain campaigner, said he will use the contest to make the “positive case for Europe” because it has been drowned out by Tory infighting during the campaign.